in those days; back then; in those years; to be in the prime of life
当 (dāng) · 6 strokes
Phonosemantic compound. 田 represents the meaning and 尚 represents the sound. The simplified character 当 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 當.
年 (Nián) · 6 strokes
Pictograph of a person (人) harvesting grain (禾). The harvest season is a yearly event.